The Chicago Bears committed to quarterback Justin Fields long-term this offseason. The franchise had an opportunity to do a total reset after landing the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. With a new regime of general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus in place that didn’t select Fields, many people thought they could look to trade the 2021 first-rounder and bring in their own guy.
However, that was put to rest when Chicago traded the first pick to the Carolina Panthers. That cemented their commitment to Fields as they got to work improving the supporting cast around him.
With the first-round pick they ended up making, the Bears made an upgrade in the trenches, selecting Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright. Along with free agent signing Nate Davis, the offensive line is quickly coming together.
Weapons-wise the Bears also made major upgrades. Wide receiver D.J. Moore was acquired as part of the trade with Carolina and Robert Tonyan was signed away from the Green Bay Packers in free agency.
With upgrades now in place, it is time for Fields to take that next step in his development. Some of that will depend on him making improvements in certain areas of his game. Arguably the most dynamic quarterback in the league as a rusher with his combination of size, speed and athleticism, Fields can make a major impact with his legs.
Alas, his passing does need some work. He made strides in 2022 and should continue improving with better skill position players around him. Eberflus revealed areas that Fields is improving on during a press conference on Friday.
“Obviously, the priority is the passing game,” Eberflus said. “We ran the ball very well. But we all know that we’ve got to improve in the passing game. Part of that is the rhythm and timing. That’s the footwork with Justin.
“He’s been really working on that, really good — in terms of the quick pass, drop-back pass, movement passes. And he’s really made some big strides in that area, coming so far on his own, and now coming into the Phase II, that first week.”
Fields improved his completion percentage and cut down his interception percentage in Year 2 compared to his rookie season. His quarterback rating and QBR also improved, as strides were certainly made.
Heading into Year 3, a true breakout could be on the horizon. If he continues putting in the work and improving his fundamentals, the sky’s the limit for the impact that he could have.
Fields will always be a threat with the ball in his hands as a ball carrier. But, he will become an even more dangerous player if he becomes a threat throwing the ball as well. With Moore and Tonyan now in the mix alongside Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool and Cole Kmet, improvements in the passing game should occur.
